Italian school (XIX) - Ritratto del Colonnello Cesare Boldrini e del suo aiutante Marco Marliani

Rare Risorgimento-period painting in oil on canvas in discreet conservation condition depicting Colonel Cesare Boldrini and his aide Marco Marliani.
The painting measures 81x72 cm.
The work has undergone a significant conservation restoration that brought to light the original chromatic scheme of the painting and the losses of painted surface that did not affect the relevant parts of the figures. At the bottom part of the painting are visible areas left neutral by the restoration, in order to avoid coverings and non-contemporary reconstructions.
The frame is not original to the period.
Cesare Boldrini (Bologna, 1785 - there, 1849) entered in 1806 the Honor Guards of the Viceroy in Milan: here he had the opportunity to distinguish himself, in the following years, in numerous war campaigns across Europe. After Napoleon's fall he moved to Brescia, where he opened a riding school. Returning to Bologna in 1848, he joined Carlo Alberto and then defended his city in 1849. Here he was urged by the population to collect Austrian heavy weapons abandoned in the street, but Boldrini knew they had been placed as a trap. To avoid clashes with his fellow citizens he carries out an action outside Porta Galliera and both he and another companion met death there, which is thus remembered by Enrico Bottrigari in his 'Cronaca di Bologna', published by Zanichelli in 1962: it was outside this Gate that yesterday took place the death of two worthy citizens. The enemy withdrawing to about 10 a.m. from the outside of said Gate left on the road three pieces of artillery. "A sortie, a sortie" cried the people. Colonel Boldrini, who barred the gate with a squadron of 60 valiant Carabinieri, obeying the people's cry, albeit reluctantly, makes a very bold charge. The enemy flees, but at the same time is protected by a strong column advancing on the right. The squadron retires in order, but the loss of the Colonel and his brave aide Marco Marliani, and of Marshal Pavoni and about 15 other of those valiant men is lamented.
Lodovico Marinelli dedicates to Boldrini an article in the magazine "Il Comune di Bologna" of June 1926: "He was born in Bologna on December 22, 1785 from a distinguished family, who educated him with great care, entrusting him, from childhood, to the most eminent masters of that time. (...) In 1805, having just completed his philosophy studies, together with his brothers Giovanni and Gaetano, he entered the body of the Honor Guard of the Viceroy of Italy in Milan, where he advanced through all the ranks with honor. (...) He took part, in 1813, in the Saxony and Russia campaigns fighting valiantly, as commander of the first chosen company of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, in the famous battles of Lutzen and Bautzen.".
Provenance private collection Milan Italy
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